Spring has Sprung at CTA!
Spring is a time of renewal, growth, and beauty. As we end our 2022/2023 season, I cannot help but feel
energized and excited for things to come!
Once Upon a Mattress opens May 5 th ! I cannot say enough about the cast, artistic staff, and production
crew. It will truly be a royal affair not to miss!
And if you have not heard, we have announced our 2023/2024 season!
A Season of Magical Mayhem!
The Little Mermaid, October 20th to November 5 th , 2023
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, February 2nd to the 18 th , 2024
The Descendants, May 3rd to the 19 th , 2024
With this season, we are so excited for the challenge, opportunity, and talent that will be showcased with this phenomenal line up!
Stay up to date with everything CTA following this link: https://www.childrenstheatreofannapolis.org/shows-and-events/
Our Education team is hard at work creating great opportunities and classes!
Check out our Summer Camp Program at https://www.childrenstheatreofannapolis.org/education/
for the latest!
o Also check out our great Tech and Backstage workshops that are FREE and guaranteed to be
both educational and fun!
Check out our special ongoing sale that will allow our audiences to own part of CTA with a seat
naming opportunity! Pick your favorite seat and/or row and get your name on our new theatre seats.
Questions? Want to buy your seat now? Contact April Forrer at
aprilforrer@childrenstheatreofannapolis.
Thinking about joining a wonderful organization, serving a great community, and having a rewarding
experience? Apply to join our Board at https://www.childrenstheatreofannapolis.org/get-involved/
Finally, we cannot do what we do without YOU! Your continued support allows CTA to continue
grow, supporting and fostering our mission, serving the child and the community. Click to Donate
“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” – Maya Angelou. I love this quote because it reminds me of the children I see shine on our stage and how theatre can enhance this light as they walk out our doors into the world. Especially the girls who will grow into strong women and we will celebrate them this month during National Women’s History Month, designated by Congress in 1987. Before this month was dedicated to women’s history, very few K-12 schools taught the important roles women played in our national history.
There have been many powerful and persuasive women in theatre and CTA is no exemption. In 1959, three talented and dedicated women, Jane Young Davis, Lydia Nolan and Martha Wright started CTA with the production of “Hansel and Gretel.” In 2018, CTA was proud to be the first children’s theatre in the region to win the prestigious Ruby Griffith Award for All-Around Production Excellence for its production of “Beauty and the Beast.” The following year, CTA was named Best Theatre Company in Annapolis in The Capital’s 2019 Readers Choice Awards, and in 2020, the theatre was awarded Best Nonprofit in Annapolis from What’s Up? Media.
We have grown so much since then and we plan to grow some more with our plans for our annex. CTA’s goal is to make the annex into an environmentally controlled 3 room building so our students will learn dancing, acting and music in a safe and warm building.
The largest new space will be a black box theatre that will seat 100+. This smaller theater space will allow more intimate shows to be performed and offered to CTA’s community. With this fully functioning theater space, CTA plans to open it up for other community groups to use, as CTA’s blackbox will be the only state-of-the-art one available for general rental in all of the Annapolis area. We also plan to increase our teen shows and workshops that work better in a smaller space.
Without historical strong foundations, CTA would not be as solid as it is today. Happy Women’s History Month! Best,
Thank you to everyone who auditioned for CTA’s production of “Once Upon A Mattress.” The show runs from May 5-21, and tickets are on sale now.
CAST LIST
Matthew Earl – Jester
Ashley Earp – Ensemble
Emily Egna – Lady Merrill, Ensemble
Natalie Egna – Knight #2, Ensemble
Helena Gray – Princess #12, Ensemble
Rosalie Hess – Queen Aggravain
Finn Hintermister – Prince Dauntless
Morgan Kay – Lady in Waiting #4, Ensemble
Will Lucas – Sir Luce, Ensemble
Cai Malone – Narrator (Minstrel)
Ryan McCandless – Sir Harry
Mason McCorkle – Knight #3, Ensemble
Ronnie McIntyre – Lady Lucille, Ensemble
Jo Politte – Lady Rowena, Ensemble
Anna Porter – Lady Larken
Madeleine Prost – Emily (Chambermaid), Ensemble
JJ Reida – King Sextimus
Mia Rinehart – Princess Winnefred
Cristal Santiago Velez – Lady in Waiting #5, Ensemble
Caden Schnabel – Sir Studley
Ali Schropp – Knight #1, Ensemble
MJ Schropp – Wizard
Madi Ward – Ensemble
Kasia Williams – Ensemble
Kathryn Williams – Ensemble
Harper Wright – Nightingale, Ensemble
Teagan Yokanovich – Ensemble
Based on the best-selling novels, this magical production upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan boy becomes the legendary Peter Pan.
ANNAPOLIS, Md.—You’ve never seen Neverland like this before! The Tony Award-winning play, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” soars into Children’s Theatre of Annapolis from February 3-19, 2023, bringing a colorful cast of characters and the magic of imagination with it.
The story begins when a miserable orphan and his friends are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. When the ship is taken over by pirates, the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.
“You might think you know the story of Peter Pan, but ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ offers up a brand-new version about this beloved literary character,” said Kelsey Casselbury, CTA publicity chair.
Peter and the Starcatcher” features 17 young performers from Anne Arundel County. Finn Hintermister, an 11th-grader at Annapolis High School, plays the role of the boy/Peter Pan, while Justin Porath, who is in ninth grade at Annapolis High, plays the villainous Black Stache. Joining them onstage is South River High School senior Lia Klug as Molly Aster and 11th-grade homeschooler Teaghan McLaughlin as Smee.
The show marks the directorial debut for longtime CTA Board Member Allyson Tierney, who is assisted by student director Jeremiah Gilbert. Michelle Bruno serves as music director with Rosie Hess as student music director. Cate Weiss is the student choreographer.
“Peter and the Starcatcher” opens on Friday, February 3, 2023, at CTA’s theatre, located at 1661 Bay Head Road, Annapolis. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays through February 19, 2023. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students age 12 and under, seniors and military. Group discounts are available. Tickets can be purchased on CTA’s website.
To arrange interviews with the cast or artistic staff, contact Kelsey Casselbury at publicity@childrenstheatreofannapolis.org. If you are interested in reviewing the production, please contact us for up to two complimentary tickets.
Children’s Theatre of Annapolis (CTA) was established in 1959 and has grown to become a premiere theatre program in central Maryland. The 501(c)3 nonprofit organization mounts three mainstage productions each year and offers a variety of theatre arts education programming. For more information, visit www.childrenstheatreofannapolis.org
Registration for CTA’s Summer Camps is now open! For 2023, we have two three-week production camps, as well as multiple options for one-week Kids Cabaret camps with Tiffany Shannon Productions.
Three-Week Production Camps
CTA’s three-week production summer camps focus on the main elements of putting a production quickly. During our time together, students will be put through placement auditions, casting, rehearsing, character development, working on sets and more. In between rehearsals, campers will participate in theater games and exercises that will help fine-tune their skills including improvisation, music and dance. This all leads up to two public performances on our main stage.
The Grunch: A New Children’s Musical
Ages 8-14 | July 10-28, 2023
Inspired by “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” The Grunch tells the story of Rudy Grunch, a grumpy sixth-grader who always feels like an outsider. When the entire school gets excited about the annual school musical, he comes up with a perfect plan to ruin it for everyone—he’ll steal the sets, costumes and lights the night before it opens. But will the spirit of theatre prevail?
Nickelodeon’s Spongebob the Musical: Youth Edition
Ages 12-18 | July 31-August 18, 2023
The stakes are higher than ever in this dynamic stage musical, as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world!
Weeklong Kids Cabaret with Tiffany Shannon Production
These week-long summer camps focus on singing, dancing and acting! Students will have a fun time as they sing, dance, play improv games, work on group acting scenes and so much more! There is a free performance on the main stage for family and friends on the final day of each camp session.
Choose from multiple date options for Wee Kids (ages 5-7) and Kids (8-11) Cabaret, as well as an option for Teen Kids Cabaret (ages 12-18).
As 2022 comes to a close, we at Children’s Theatre of Annapolis are reflecting on the magic and joy of the past year. We’ve had trials and tribulations (thanks to COVID-19 and the flu!), but we continue to be in awe of our young performers, our wonderful volunteers and our dedicated patrons. Before the year ends, we have a simple ask: Support CTA in 2023 by making a year-end donation to our nonprofit organization.
Let’s take a look back on the highlights of 2022:
In February, we kicked off the year with an incredible production of the play, “Robin Hood.” In its review of the production, MD Theatre Guide said, “The audience, young and old, was transformed by a story that never gets old.”
Next up, in May 2022, we mounted the classic production, “Annie,” featuring 28 young performers from around the area. Unfortunately, this amazing show was felled by the spread of COVID-19, forcing the cancellation of two weekends—but the cast and crew shone bright during their four amazing shows. A local blogger shared details of her evening at “Annie,” stating it was “very well done, great sets, and it is amazing how talented these children are!”
Summer 2022 was full of fun! CTA once again sponsored the Children’s Area at Pints for Paws, a fundraiser for the ASPCA, then dove headfirst into its summer camps: a number of weeklong camps with Tiffany Shannon Productions, along with two successful production camps, Disney’s “Descendants the Musical” and “Footloose: Youth Edition.”
At the end of July, we were thrilled to welcome County Executive Steuart Pittman and Delegate Heather Bagnall for a ground-breaking ceremony on our annex buildout. Stay tuned for more details on when we expect to open the new building!
In October 2022, Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical” came to the CTA stage as the final mainstage production of the year. One review shared, “Director Atticus Cooper Boidy took a familiar but dark story and made it into a triumph for the young cast and their audiences.” Sadly, this production was also felled by a virus—this time, the flu—and required canceling the first weekend of shows.
We closed the year with a return to our annual event, Breakfast with Santa, which once again entertained a sell-out crowd.
What’s Coming in 2023?
There’s a lot more in store at CTA during the upcoming year!
The aforementioned “Once Upon a Mattress,” a hilarious musical retelling of the classic tale of “The Princess and the Pea,” will run from May 5-21, 2023.
We’ll have another amazing slate of summer camps—watch for registration to open in early January!
We can’t continue to thrive without your support! Please consider making a year-end donation to help us in all of the amazing things we have in store in 2023.
Last year, Children’s Theatre of Annapolis (CTA) enhanced more than 600 children’s lives by nurturing the growth and development of the love of theatre in children ages 5 to 18, through participation in all aspects of the theatrical experience, including performance, workshops, technical elements, community involvement, and apprenticeships. With your help we can reach even more children through our education classes and mainstage productions.
Your end-of-the-year donation will go directly to CTA’s operating budget, so we can continue to provide a positive circle of influence through friendships that foster self-esteem, creativity, commitment, teamwork, appreciation, and dedication. In 2021, CTA gave more than $6,000 in scholarships and tuition assistance to families who need a helping hand.
Our CTA kids agree…
“I walked into the theatre for the first time a confused, childish, immature boy with a passion, and I will now leave the theatre a confident, reliable, and determined young man with a dream.”—Liam O’Toole
“Something so special, so intrinsic, to CTA is the vast opportunities they provide to students. From sound designing an entire show by myself to going through the artistic building process of a mainstage show, these opportunities have forced me to adjust how I interact, collaborate, and learn from people, all for the better.”—Andrew Wilson
Children’s Theatre of Annapolis is pleased to announce the hiring of Atticus C. Boidy as its full-time technical director, effective Monday, December 5, 2022.
No stranger to CTA, Boidy has long been involved as both an artistic staff member, technical designer and teaching artist. Most recently, he helmed CTA’s productions of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical” and “Annie” as director. Additionally, Atticus has directed productions at many other local theatres and schools, as well as worked in lighting design, stage management, set design and scenic artistry.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be working with CTA as its full-time technical director,” Boidy shared. “CTA has been a home theater for me since 2018, and I am looking forward to many more successful years to come. As an artist, taking on this position feels like a dream come true. As technical director, my goal is to continue to elevate the quality of productions and teach new children and volunteers the joys of technical theater.”
Every time the curtain opens, the audience hushes, and the first words are spoken, you know that your support made it happen—not just the production, but the transformation of stories come to life and the journey every young person at CTA makes toward learning who they are and how to express their individuality, making life-long friends along the way and discovering the magic of the performing arts.
This #GivingTuesday on November 29, 2022, consider making a gift to Children’s Theatre of Annapolis. Your support may help fund:
Tuition assistance for in-need students & performers.
Vital production elements such as sets, costumes, props, lighting equipment and more.
Field trips for Title I schools to see a CTA show.
Administrative or maintenance costs to keep CTA’s premiere facility up to date and safe.
Rights to shows for mainstage productions and educational programs.
The story of an extraordinary girl who dares to take a stand and change her own destiny plays from October 21 to November 6, 2022, at Children’s Theatre of Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS, Md.—A classic children’s novel comes to life on stage as Children’s Theatre of Annapolis mounts a production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, running from October 21 to November 6, 2022.
Mia Rinehart, Harper Wright and Finn Hintermister. Photo by Wendy Hickok Photography.
Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning musical revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
Matilda features 26 local performers aged 9 to 17 years old. Harper Wright, 10, of Millersville, stars as the titular character, while Mia Rinehart, 16, and Finn Hintermister, 16, both of Annapolis, play the roles of Mrs. and Mr. Wormwood, respectively, Matilda’s parents. Additionally, both in their CTA debuts, Anna Porter, 16, of Crofton, performs as Miss Honey and Matthew Earle, 17, of Edgewater, plays the role of Trunchbull.
“Matilda the Musical, the first production of our 2022-2023 ‘Season of Stories,’ brings some of children’s literature’s most beloved characters to life,” said Kelsey Casselbury, CTA publicity chair. “It’s a story that audiences of all ages will enjoy, as well as a perfect introduction to live theatre for children.”
The show is directed by Atticus Cooper Boidy, who last helmed CTA’s “Annie” in May 2022. He is joined by veteran musical director Emily L. Sergo and new-to-CTA choreographer Brandon Glass.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical opens on Friday, October 21, 2022, at CTA’s theatre, located at 1661 Bay Head Road, Annapolis. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays through November 6, 2022. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students age 12 and under, seniors and military. Group discounts and season subscriptions are available. Purchase tickets at cta.ticketleap.com.
To arrange interviews with the cast or artistic staff, contact Kelsey Casselbury at publicity@childrenstheatreofannapolis.org. If you are interested in reviewing the production, please contact us for up to two complimentary tickets.
Children’s Theatre of Annapolis (CTA) was established in 1959 and has grown to become a premiere theatre program in central Maryland. The 501(c)3 nonprofit organization mounts three mainstage productions each year and offers a variety of theatre arts education programming. For more information, visit www.childrenstheatreofannapolis.org.
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In February, we kicked off the year with an incredible production of the play, “Robin Hood.” In its review of the production, 
In October 2022, Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical” came to the CTA stage as the final mainstage production of the year. 
